Cruise to Nowhere

Going Nowhere

A cruise without ports of call doesn’t actually go nowhere – in fact, ships on these short voyages head out to sea to a point where opening on board stores and casinos is legal, and passengers can spend their time on the ship enjoying all the activities and amenities without being distracted by port preparations and time in the dock. The ships sail calmly along a looping course that takes them back to their initial embarkation cruise port, after having offered a night or two of uninterrupted fun.

Cruise Activities

The lack of destination ports does not mean that a cruise to nowhere is any less exciting than a longer voyage that visits many different islands or continents. In fact, during a port-less cruise, there are often a greater range of cruise activities offered to entertain passengers and let them experience all the fun of a cruise vacation. Popular activities include:

• Trivia or game show style contests
• Fine dining and themed buffets
• Pool games such as belly flop, sexy leg, or hairy chest contests
• Art auctions
• Sports contests
• Music and dancing in different genres
• Movies and nightly shows including revues, comedians, magicians, and more
• Gambling tournaments and casino gaming lessons
• Tours of restricted areas such as the bridge, galley, or engineering decks
• Dance lessons, crafts, and educational lectures
• Shopping sales and special offers
• Fitness classes and spa treatments

The exact activities offered vary greatly depending on the cruise line, specific ship, and the length of the cruise. Because these specialized voyages are generally much shorter than most sailings, passengers will not have the opportunity to experience everything they might find on a longer getaway but they will get a broad sampling of what the ship offers.

Finding a Cruise to Nowhere

Finding a cruise without ports of call can be a challenge – very few of these voyages are offered annually, and their schedules are often unpredictable. Because cruise lines will lose money if the ships are docked in port for days without passengers, nowhere voyages are often planned after a ship has relocated to a new home port and needs to realign its schedule with new itineraries. Cruise lines may also over these special cruises as previews for media professionals and travel agents when a new ship debuts, or if the ship has only recently completed its maiden voyage it may visit several large ports and offer these short sailings so more passengers can become familiar with it.

Without ports, this type of cruise generally lasts between one and three nights, though two night voyages tend to be the most popular. Fewer than a dozen such voyages are usually offered annually, and the larger cruise companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, and Holland America Cruise Line are among the lines that offer these unique sailings. Depending on itinerary shifts and cruise ship availability, a cruise to nowhere may depart from any regular home port, such as the Port of Miami, Seattle, Norfolk, or New York City. Just as these voyages can be found in multiple home ports, they can also be found throughout the year.

To find one of these specialized cruises, interested passengers should conduct online searches through reputable cruise agents. The official cruise websites may have more frequently updated information, and experienced cruise travel agents can help passengers find the non-destination of their dreams.

Relaxation is always free.

Cost

Just because a cruise does not visit any ports does not mean it will be a less expensive vacation. While the fare prices are often much lower than on longer, port-bound voyages, passengers should take note of cruise price inclusions and what is not included in that basic fare. The cost of tips, casino games, alcoholic beverages, spa treatments, souvenirs, and specialty dining can drastically increase the price if passengers aren’t careful with their travel budget.

While passenger berths aren’t decreased on these specialty voyages, because they are such exclusive opportunities they can sell out quickly. Interested passengers should make their cruise reservations well in advance to ensure there is space available with the cruise ship cabin they’d prefer.

A cruise to nowhere can be a unique, fun vacation for frequent cruisers and a great way to enjoy all a ship has to offer without the distraction of frequent ports of call, For many passengers, the days at sea are the most enjoyable of any voyage, and a cruise made up of nothing but time at sea can be the best cruise destination of all.